Thursday, February 27, 2014

Boat Noodle @ Empire Damansara

Bangkok's 'boat noodles' have sailed into Damansara Perdana, stirring up a sweet-&-spicy storm for fans of Thai fare.

Boat Noodle _ which isn't officially open but has been hosting test sessions _ plays it somewhat safe by sticking to the beef & chicken versions of its namesake, shunning porcine blood & crackling for resolutely bovine & fowl broths. But even without pork, these little bowls still pack plenty of nuance, with undercurrents of a savoury-sour tang.

The broth relies on beef bones or chicken stock, depending on which one customers order. The flavours so far seem pleasant instead of punchy, but what we tasted here might not exactly be what this outlet serves when it launches, likely next month; the kitchen is still tinkering with the recipes, so Boat Noodle should prove unsinkable by March.

Customers are advised to order three bowls per person for a fairly filling meal. Each bowl here will likely clock in at RM1.90, more than what they cost near Victory Monument, but calculative customers should appreciate being able to save on airfare to the Land of Smiles.

Chilled pandan-coconut desserts that could pass off for Nyonya puddings, served in small bowls as well, constitute the ideal wrap-up to a meal here. Absolutely addictive.

Boat Noodle is a friendly place that harbours no pretensions of striving to satisfy patrons with anything but freshly assembled soul food; this place could float close to the top of eateries to check out once it opens.

Our one request: Add offal to the noodles here. We love our liver, we'll be thankful for tendons & tripe.

Boat Noodle

G3A, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana

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The Yum List: someone said the servings were traditionally small as the bowls of boat noodles were once served on actual boats, and small bowls helped prevent spillage. not sure how far that's true, heh =)

Footfringe: haha, but damansara perdana is such a convenient location for you ... i need to battle a long line of cars to even get close to damansara perdana :D and yeah, small servings for food for low prices are the best! i like the glass noodles here also ... not too filling :)

The taste of the rice noodles soup of pathumtani and ayuthaya in ikano is not the same as the empire Damansara boat noodles and klang parade boat noodle. I went yesterday to ikano and now I'm at empire Damansara boat noodle. What is lack ? The taste and mainly the soup was different hope they used the same SOAP protocol. The soup in ikano is so thin n the smell of coriander that I always love was not there... :( lucky here still the same